What to Wear for a Passport Photo

The State Department's clothing rules are short, but they leave many everyday questions open: Can I wear white? What about a hoodie, earrings or a scrub top? This guide goes through the official rules first and then the practical choices that help your photo look clear and pass review.

The official clothing rules

Form DS-82 (edition 04-2025) states the core rule: photos are to be taken in clothing normally worn on a daily basis, and you cannot wear a uniform, clothing that looks like a uniform, or camouflage attire. The State Department's photo page adds that hats and head coverings are not allowed except for religious or medical purposes.

The Foreign Affairs Manual, which passport specialists follow, explains the reasoning for the uniform rule. Photos showing a uniform of the U.S. uniformed services or military or law-enforcement style clothing, which usually includes camouflage, are not acceptable for regular passport books and cards. The stated purpose is to protect travelers from people who might target U.S. citizens because of a real or perceived link to the military or police. The manual also bans headphones, Bluetooth devices and similar electronics in the photo.

What you can and cannot wear

Uniforms and camouflage in detail

If you serve in the military, law enforcement, a fire department or another uniformed service, wear civilian clothes for your regular passport photo. The manual notes that even though the Department has no objection, the uniformed services' own rules do not allow uniforms in special-issuance passport photos either.

Camouflage is about the military look, not the color. The manual gives exceptions for clothing that cannot be read as military or law-enforcement style, such as a whimsical pattern, and for children 15 and under in some cases. Since the next-generation passport prints the photo in black and white, a bright pink camouflage can look like ordinary camouflage once printed. The simplest choice is a solid top.

Choosing colors that photograph well

There is no official color rule for clothing, but there is a practical one: your clothes should contrast with the white or off-white background.

• Good choices: navy, black, dark gray, burgundy, forest green, medium blue, and other solid medium or dark tones.
• Use with care: white, cream, very pale gray and pastels. They can make your shoulders disappear into the background and make the crop look odd.
• Avoid: busy patterns, large logos, text across the chest and shiny fabrics that reflect light.
• Neckline: a visible collar or neckline helps define the shoulders. Very low necklines can make the photo look like bare shoulders against the background.

Also watch the color of your clothes against your skin. A top close to your skin tone can make the neck and shoulders blend together in the printed passport.

Jewelry, piercings and accessories

The manual says hearing devices, wigs, facial piercings and similar items may be worn if they do not partly or completely hide the face. In practice:

• Keep earrings and necklaces modest. Large shiny pieces can create glare. See glare and reflections.
• Facial piercings can stay if they are part of how you look every day and do not cover the eyes or face.
• Flat hair clips, bobby pins and thin headbands are fine. Wide headbands, bows and scarves on the head are treated as head coverings. See passport photo hair rules.
• Remove sunglasses and glasses resting on your head. See the glasses rule.
• One-time face decorations, such as painted sports logos, are not acceptable, though permanent tattoos do not need to be covered.

Medical items, bandages and visible injuries

Sometimes the photo has to be taken while you are wearing something for a medical reason. The Foreign Affairs Manual says that if bandages or medical equipment, such as ventilator tubing or an eye patch, cover part of the face, a medical statement signed by a medical professional is required. Marks on the face from a medical condition, such as a black eye, swelling or cuts, are acceptable, and there is no requirement to wait until they heal. Medical supports for the head, neck or shoulders, including a wheelchair, may also be visible in the background.

Dressing children for the photo

Children follow the same basic clothing rules. A few practical points help:

• Choose a solid colored top without cartoon prints, text or large logos near the neck.
• For babies lying on a white sheet, a colored onesie gives the photo a clear outline against the white.
• Take off hats, bows and wide headbands. Small flat clips that keep hair out of the eyes are fine.
• Keep pacifiers and toys out of the shot so nothing covers the face. No other person, including a parent's hands, can appear.

The manual allows some flexibility for children 15 and under on camouflage-style clothing, but a plain top avoids any question. See the child passport photo guide for more tips.

Head coverings and hats

Hats, caps and hoods are not allowed. A religious or medical head covering is allowed when it is worn for those reasons, your full face is visible and it does not cast shadows on your face. When you apply by mail or in person, include a signed statement. Read religious and medical head coverings for what the statement should say.

Outfit checklist before your photo

1. Everyday clothes, solid medium or dark color.
2. No uniform, uniform-style clothing or camouflage.
3. No hat or hood, unless religious or medical.
4. Headphones, earbuds and glasses removed.
5. Jewelry small and not covering any part of the face.
6. Collar flat, hair off the face, nothing on the shoulders that blocks the neck.

Then check everything else on the passport photo requirements list.